Booker Hosts Roundtable with NJ Parents, Educators to Discuss Rising Costs Under Trump This Back-to-School Season Ahead of Budget Fight

NEWARK, N.J. – This morning, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) hosted a roundtable discussion with New Jersey parents and educators to discuss the rising cost of living under President Trump as back to school season begins, and as the Senate prepares to consider the Republicans’ budget proposal.

The event follows Senator Booker’s recent discussion about the upcoming budget fight on NBC’s Meet The Press, where Senator Booker stated “I'm not giving away my vote for a budget that hurts New Jerseyans or anybody in our nation.”

From Senator Booker: “As children go back to school, the teachers and parents I met with made clear how so many are facing higher costs and greater hardships on everything from their school supplies to the groceries they need to pack their kids’ lunch. The stories I heard today are an indictment of the Trump administration’s failure of leadership and misguided priorities. As Republicans prepare to put forward their budget in the Senate, the challenges I heard about from New Jerseyans only reinforced my belief that this is an urgent moment. My commitment to the people of New Jersey is that I will not give away my vote for a budget that continues hurting our state and fails to address the economic realities facing working families across the country. As we enter this tense negotiation period over the nation’s budget in Washington, I will be carrying the stories that I heard today and from so many others in recent months.”

“I look forward to working with Sen. Booker and other leaders to build an economy that works for everyone, not just a fortunate few,” said NJEA President Steve Beatty. “The federal government’s priorities are not the priorities of New Jersey families. Instead of dismantling the Department of Education and cruelly cutting off funds for our schools and communities, we need a budget that makes sure New Jersey students and families have every resource they need and every opportunity they deserve.”

“La Casa de Don Pedro would like to thank Senator Booker for returning to his old stomping grounds here in Newark, NJ to discuss the important issues we’re facing in our country today. We truly appreciate Senator Booker including us in these difficult conversations surrounding tariffs, budget cuts, and rising costs which are making it more challenging than ever for our communities to properly educate and prepare their children for the future. His solidarity in this matter is critical to those we serve,” said Peter T. Rosario, President & CEO, La Casa de Don Pedro.

“In times when public education is under attack–through funding cuts, political agendas, and attempts to silence equity–our advocacy becomes not just about schools, but about defending democracy itself,” said Chantal Rivers-Jasey (pictured), Educator, Roselle Borough Public Schools. 

BACKGROUND: COSTS ARE UP UNDER TRUMP

RISING COSTS: SUPPLIES

• On average, a typical back-to-school shopping list now costs 7.3% more than it did last year, according to a new analysis from Groundwork Collaborative and The Century Foundation
• Some of the steepest increases are seen in everyday items: index cards (+42.6%), notebooks (+17.1%), binders (+12.8%), and folders (+12.7%).
• This is compounded by the effects of Trump’s tariffs which are hiking the prices of clothing and shoes by as much as 40 percent, electronics by 30 percent, and college textbooks by 10 percent.

According to the National Retail Federation’s annual back to school survey, clothes and shoes are the second largest expense for K–12 families, with the average household planning to spend nearly $250 in 2025. Since all shoes sold in the United States are imported, most from countries like China, Vietnam, and Indonesia where Trump’s tariffs now range from 20 to 40 percent, these costs are especially sensitive to trade policy.

The Administration’s tariffs are also expected to drive laptop and tablet prices up by more than 30 percent, with the July Consumer Price Index already showing a 2.3 percent increase in computer and accessory prices since Trump took office.

RISING COSTS: FOOD

These rising costs are compounded by federal policies that have undermined or completely cut programs like free school meals and Summer EBT, which provide critical support for children in low-income households receiving SNAP benefits.

• This school year, families are expected to spend about $163 more to pack their child’s lunch compared to last year, according to a new analysis from Groundwork Collaborative and The Century Foundation
• Families will pay nearly $163 more this year for school lunch staples, a 5.4% increase over last year.
• The price of brown-bag essentials, such as juice boxes, grapes, and strawberries, is up by an average of 22%
• Prices for common staples have surged, including American cheese (+6.4%), bananas (+5%), green grapes (+34.8%), and apple juice (+22.6%).

RISING COSTS: ENERGY

• New Jerseyans are already facing increasing electricity costs, for a variety of reasons:
• PJM manages the capacity market auction for 13 states including NJ, which locks down power supplies for the coming year in the energy market has drawn increased scrutiny since they surged by more than $200 last year to hit $270/MWd. That drove dramatic, double-digit rate increases for customers, including a $25 per month bill increase in New Jersey that caused political uproar.
• The Big Beautiful Bill, eliminated the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy tax credits, it is estimated that utility bills in New Jersey will increase by 13.3% for electricity and 2.9% for gas, which may cost households upwards of $1,400 annually.
• The state could also lose more than 22,000 jobs and see a $3.24 billion hit to GDP in a study conducted by Energy Innovative.
• The budget proposal eliminates in 2026 the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provides heating and cooling assistance to 6 million low-income households, including millions of seniors and veterans, to help prevent utility shutoffs.

RISING COSTS: CHILD CARE AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES

The cancellation of many federal grants and the freezes to federal formula funding caused much uncertainty for school budgets. This has forced delays or cancellations in funding for critical staff positions and programs that provide academic support and enrichment.

• In the United States, 69% of children under age six have all parents in the labor force, making access to affordable child care essential.
• In 2024, the average annual cost of child care reached $13,128, a 5.7% increase from the previous year.
• For families seeking these opportunities outside of school, costs are even higher lessons and instruction are up nearly 4% compared to last year